PUBLIC MEETING AT THE TOWN HALL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 80, 24 April 1877, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE TOWN HALL.

A meeting of the electors of the County of Akaroa, convened by Mr. E. C. Latter, the County Chairman, was held at the Town Hall, on Saturday last, to consider in what way the Government should be asked to expend the sums, voted by the late Provincial Government, for special works within the County, and now lying to the credit of a Trust Account. There must have been quite 200 persons present, including electors from all parts of the County, the greatest interest being manifested by all present in the business under discussion. On the motion of J. D. Garwood, Mr. Latter was voted to the chair. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said that as a majority of the members of the Akaroa County Council had decided to reject the permissive clauses of the Act, the Council's duty was now only to meet once a-year, with the view of recommending the annual distribution of the County revenue among the various Road Boards, established throughout the Peninsula. Previous to the first meeting of the County Council, the Government had paid into a trust account certain sums of money to be expended on particular works as piovided by certain votes of ihe late Provincial Council. The following are the grants for the special works:— Pigeon Bay road, £1,000; road from Le Bon's to Summit, £100 ; Long Bay track to Akaroa, £350 ; Wainui road, £1,549 14s; road from Mount Bossu to mouth of Lake Forayth,- £900; total, £3,899 14s. He was sorry to remark that great delay had taken place in carrying out these works, the delay, in a great measure, being due to the Council taking three months from its first meeting to decide whether it should adopt the measure or not. The expenditure of these special grants was a matter of very great importance, and it was to be regretted that the money should have been allowed to remain so long idle in the bank. He had written to the Government on the subject, but failed to obtain a satisfactory answer. Therefore he had been induced to convene a meeting of the electors in order to take an expression of opinion upon the matter. To a certain extent he was in charge of the money, and would feel himself bound to give it up in accordance with the wishes of a majority of tho electors. There were two ways that these special votes could be expended—one by

handing bver*'to : the different RM<I Boards, and the other, by the Government sending down its own Engineer to direct their expenditure. Since the meeting of that day had been convened, he received an intimation from the Government that tihey were ready to -expend the money. (Hear, hear.) The Government had at present in view an engineer whom they intended to send down, but he had no doubt that any resolution passed by the meeting would receive' the best attention of the Government. He thought that he need not further dwell upon the matter, but whatever resolution was arrived at would be transmitted without delay to the Government:; If all-the roads for Avhich the special grants were available had-been laid out, there could be no question about the Road Boards being the proper bodies to expend the votes, but he knew of two lines at least whichhad not yet been surveyed. Another difficulty was likely to be experienced if .the Road Boards undertook j the expenditure, and that was, when a road passed through two road districts, for instance, the Pigeon Bay and Port Levy road. The proposed road from Mount Bossu to Lake Forsyth also would pass through two districts, but he had been informed by a resident in one of the districts that but a very small portion of the road would pass through another district. Mr. Garwood would like to be informed whether any of the votes could be alienated to more useful works. He contended that the Bossu road was not a useful work. (Hear, hear.) Mr. M'Kay.—Has Mr. Garwood taken the trouble to visit that locality ? Mr. Garwood.—Yes. Mr. Hemingway said that if the votes for that work could be diverted, he would support Mr. Garwood. The Chairman said that he had been advised that the votes could only be expended by the works enumerated. (Hear, hear.) Mr. A. C. Knight said that he had a resolution, which he intended proposing, which was—" That, in the opinion of this meeting, the several works for the construction of which the Akaroa County Council hold money in trust should be at once taken in hand by the Road Boards in -which they are situated and the monies transferred to those bodies upon their consenting .to undertake their construction." He was pleased to hear the Chairman say that the Road Boards were the proper bodies to receive the votes providing the lines had been surveyed and pegged out. Even if they had not been surveyed, he held that the Road Boards were the proper bodies to control the expenditure of these monies. What guarantee could be given, if the Government sent down a nominee, that these votes would be wisely expended ? Only a few years ago the Provincial Government made an alteration in the system of the expenditure of special votes, to the effect that the works had to be carried out by the Road Boards under the snpervision of the Provincial Engineer, and he remembered that a tolerably hot debate ensued on the question. He believed that the men serving upon Road Boards were quite capable of taking charge of these votes. Taking the Road Boards throughout the Province, he considered that the roadworks made under their supervision were most creditable. He was not alluding to the roads on the Peninsula in particular as he had no special knowledge of them, but he was certain that the Boards established here made their votes go as far as any money spent by the General Government. (Hear, hear.) This was a peculiarly favorable time to secure the local control of those votes. There was a gentlemen resident in Akaroa, who formerly held the appointment of District Engineer, and whilst serving under the Government, his work gave the highest satisfaction, and from his experience of the district, he (Mr. Knight) considered that gentleman peculiarly capable of undertaking the supervision of the expenditure of these special grants. He held that the roads laid out by the late District Engineer were superior to those formerly laid out on the Peninsula. He would again say that this was a peculiarly favourable time, as the gentleman to wiiom he alluded was now freed from office, and able to take instructions from the Road Boards—in fact one of the Boards was now employing him. It Avas not hard to imagine what may happen if the Government undertake the works in question. Some old servant, who may have claims upon the Government, may be appointed at a high salary to expend these votes, and that old servant would be sure to have some old and valued friends in waiting for posts, the salaries incurred by these appointments would be certain to swallow up many hundreds of pounds. He had heard it whispered that an old and valued engineer was ready, and he might say, waiting for the appointment. There was a good local engineer in the district, and as he was peculiarly capable of laying off the roads in question, he trusted that gentleman would be employed in the work. He well remembered the engineering capabilities displayed by the gentlemen, who was waiting instructions from the Government to proceed to the Peninsula, on the Porter's Pass road, which cost a considerable sum of money, which had eventually to be abandoned, and madcon the sunny side of the hill. He hoped the meeting would not allow an engineer to be sent down who was not possessed of the requisite talents for the office.

Mr. John Bell seconded the motion, and was of opinion that the money could be safely entrusted to the Road Boards. There may have been dissatisfaction expressed in the expenditure of votes in years gone by, but he was certain that all would admit that though the outlay may have been in the wrong place, the money was properly spent. He held that the fault lay with the engineer who laid off the roads, and the result was, that the money was spent without advantage, the gradients being found to be too steep. Another reason which would induce him to suspend the Road Boards receiving the votes, was to avoid delay. If a fresh engineer were appointed, he would be almost certain to lay off the lines afresh, possibly in opposition to the gentleman who had already executed the lines. He apprehended no difficulty being experienced in the carrying out of any work passing through two Road Board districts, as the two bodies could easily undertake the expenditure of the vote. Mr. DtXBUEY said that he was very much pleaeea to hear Mr. Knight say a word or two in favour of the Road Boards. A great deal of misapprehension appeared to exist in the minds of the public relative to the early works on the Peninsula. They were constructed partly under the authority of the Road Boards, partly under the authority of the General Government, and

partly under the Provincial Government. If the matter were thoroughly looked into, it would be found that the Road Board had no alternative but construct the roads as laid off by the engineer. They had no • control whatever over the votes. They had no voice in the Okains, Le Bon's or. Little River roads—they were not Road Board works. If the ratepayers would only look into those works, it would be found that the roads constructed by the I Road Boards would bear favourable comparison. ' The roads he mentioned were provincial works, and in ■ those days the Road Boards had no voice. He,, as a Road Board member, was very much pleased with the character of Mr. Fenton's work, which was always good. That gentlemen was at present employed by the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, but he would be sorry to make it a hard and fast vote that one man only should be employed upon work of this description. If the Boards secured the expenditure of these special grants, he would be in favour of calling for tenders for the office. - If an agent of the General Government were to have the control of those votes, there would be no check upon him, but if the Road Board secured the expenditure of the money, the public would be able to exercise a wholesome check. A Voice.—lf the money was not well spent, we would be able to turn the members out.

Mr. W. Babnett, senior, asked if the public would be content in seeing one-half of the Koad Board rates spent in salaries among clerks and engineers. He knew of one clerk to a Board who was in receipt of a salary of £150 per year, and all the work he did was to walk about. (Mr. D. Wright—" He is here." (A voice—" Well done, Barnett.") He said that if the. whole of the Koad Boards on the Peninsula were conducted after the manner of the Okains, it was time to have one body, with clerk, ond one engineer. He did not say that the other Boards wore well managed, but if the ratepayers held up their hands in favour of the motion he was done. Again, he would say let us have one engineer, and let all contracts by tender. (Hear,

hear.) Mr. Whitfield advised the Okain's ratepayers to look after their members, and if they failed to do their duty, club together and get better men. He was sure that on this side they had good members, and that the. ratepayers placed every confidence in them. (Hear, hear.) Mr. H. G. Watkins said that the interest manifested in the subject under discussion, convinced him that the election for the members of the County Council was of too hurried a character. Had the County adopted the Act in its entirety, there would have been no necessity for the present meeting , . At present there was just the choice of either allowing the Government Engineer to spend the money, or hand it over to the Road Boards. The latter would find a difficulty in employing a staff, but if the present meeting had the power to appoint an engineer, a judicious selection could no doubt be made. The position in which we are placed is jiot at all complimentary to the Road Boards. While there were such a large number of the electors present, it would be wise to make a view to re-organisa the County Council. He held that if it deserved caution in the selection of members of Road Boards, how much more caution was necessary to be exercised in the selection of members of the County Council. Mr. Shadbolt asked Mr. Watkins that if he were a member of either the Road Board or County Council, would he consider himself a better man ? Mr Watkins explained that his remarks referred to Road Boards generally. Mr. Duxbury would like to know if Mr. Watkins would be agreeable to abolish the Borough Council, and transfer its functions to the County. Mr. Gakwood considered that the speakers were going away from the question, and held that one part of the resolution proposed by Mr. Knight stultified the other. His arguments were very good, •but he had omitted to mention that there was a chronic dispute existing among Road Boards relative to boundaries. Could Mr. Knight say that the Boards would be prepared to agree'to accept of the expenditure of the vote. If so, he would say, for one, decidedly allow them. It was the simplest and best plan, and towards the Boards, the most courteous. Mr. Duxbury said that the dispute alluded to by Mr. Garwood did not now exist. The Government made a mistake in making the watershed the boundary. Mr. H. G. Watkins asked how it was, if what Mr. Duxbury said was correct, that the Little River and Akaroa and Wainui Road Boards were both demanding rates for the same property from him V Mr. Roberts could confirm what Mr. Duxbury said. The watershed was originalty the boundary, but owing to the neglect of a gentleman to amend the boundaries, the matter was not yet settled. The meeting had heard a great deal about the local engineer, and Mr. Knight had taken care to butter him well up, but Mr. Anderson, who had really laid out all the good roads, was entirely forgotten. Mr. Baker said that he had an amendment to propose, which he trusted would be acceptable to the meeting.—" That, in the opinion of this meeting the General Government should carry out the works for which the sums of money are deposited to credit of trust fund." He advocated the money being expended by the General Government, not because he considered the Road Boards incompetent, but he feared that as the votes would have to be expended in different districts, no end of disputes would arise. No Road Board on the Peninsula employed the services of a permanent engineer. He would ask could the ratepayers depend upon getting all the Road Boards to agree to the employment of one man to take charge of the votes. If the work were a large one, they might. Again, what guarantee would there be that the Road Boards would employ the gentleman mentioned by several speakers. Indeed Mr. Duxbury, a Road Board member, went so far as to say that he would not bind himself to any engineer. If the matter rested with the Government, he had no doubt that a competent engineer would be sent down. Mr. Duxbury.—What does Wellington know about our wants. Mr. Baker said that each trust does not require an engineer—one could well look after the lot. Mr. D. Wright was much afraid that if the votes were left in the hands of the Government all the money in the bank would be absorbed in salaries. Mr. H. G. Watkins seconded the amendment pro forma. Mr. John Bell said that he feared there

was a misapprehension as regards the other side of the harbour. Two-thirds of the road on this side was surveyed, and consequently there could b« no dispute as to the lines. ~ Mr. Baker remarked that two line* had been laid off, and both were rejected. Mr. Bell.—But tenders had been called for both works. .* Mr. Doxbury 'said that if Mr. Baker's plan be carried out, we will have centralism with a vengeance. Mr. Baker said that if the Boards were all composed of first-class men like Mr. Duxbury, he would not have the least objection in allowing them to deal with the votes. (Laughter.) Mr. Hemingway supported Mr. Baker's, amendment. The Chairman said that he had been informed by 'a gentleman that the Government were about to send down Mr. Dodson to expend the votes. , Mr. Bell.—Did Mr. Dodson lay off the Perau line. Voices—" Yes I its a credit to him." (Laughter.) Mr. A. C. Knight trusted that the meeting would unanimously support either the motion or amendment. If t either were carried by a small majority, it would show the Government that. the feeling in the district was very much divided. It was possible that at the approaching session of Parliament, the Counties Bill would be repealed, and all moneys to the credit of tho trust account would then be pa id into the Colonial Treasury. .If the votes foutt their way there, he was quite certain that they would never see the money expended on the hills. As the Government were now short of money, and consequently were anxious to increase the sums at their disposal.. If the motion was carried unaniomously, the Government would no doubt give way, and allow the feelings of the , ratepayers to be carried out. Mr. Anson said that he had nothing to say against the Road Boards, but he believed it would be better in every way to allow the General Government to appoint a man. What was wanted was some one to lay out the roads, and he was sure that a General Government servant, however bad, would be competent to lay off a good road. The ratepayers would, at all events, secure a certain amount of impartiality from him. Mr. Bell. —It is quite possible a General Government agent might he : swayed. . ' g i Mr. Anson said it appeared tc him that those who support, the Government undertaking the work, run down the Road Boards, and those in favour of the Road Boards ran down the Government. In tfie district in which he was represented, the proposed Bossu road would pass through two road districts, and therefore its equitable distribution would be hard to decide if left in the hands of the Road Boards. He held that the money could be divided more equally, and with greater satisfaction by the Government. Mr. D. Wright was of opinion that it would be an easy matter for the several Road Boards to co-operate in securing the services of an engineer. There was a vote of £100 for.Le Bon's road, which had been commenced at each end, but the middle was left untouched. He could assure the meeting that directly this road was finished, Mr.. Barnett would enter a modest claim of £400 for compensation for land taken for road purposes. He (Mr. Barnett) was grasping for it. If the claim were not met, an action would be brought against the Road Board. The Provincial Engineer some time ago caused a road to be sur-* veyed near Little Akaloa, taking about sp acre of private land. When the road was finished, the owner of the land erected a three rail fence across the Toad, and obtained £10 compensation. Mr. Barnett's land cost £2 per acre, but let the Ro#d Board finish the road, and the ratepayers will see how quickly he will make a demand for compensation. Mr. W. Barnett, senior, said that he had been asked by both Mr. Fenton and Mr. Townend if he would be agreeable to allow the road to be carried through his land if an easy gradient could be found on the sunny side. He had told Mr. Fenton that he was perfectly agreeable to take any sum that may be considered reasonable providing the Government would undertake to erect fences on both sides of the - road. He. denied ever having spoken to such a man as that r 1, who was walking about at a salary of £150 per year. The Chairman said there was no record of the matter alluded to by the last speaker before the. meeting, and he would adviso him to keep more to the question. Mr. H. G. Watkins said that from the nature of the speeches, he was sure there were many persons present who would find, a difficulty in making up their minds ho\f • to vote. •

Mr. Roberts. —We all thoroughly understand the question. Mr. H. G. Watkins said that the ject might appear clear enough to Mr. Roberts. He, for one, had more confidence in a Road Board as a body, than in a single individual, and would therefore vote for the motion. Mr. Baker would like to be informed whether it was consistent on the part of Mr. Watkins to second an amendment and vote in favour of the motion. Mr. Roberts said that Mr. Watkins had merely seconded the amendment, pro forma, and spoke in favour of the motion. Mr. G. R. Jobun said he came to the meeting, not to speak, but to listen. It however, appeared to him that the question before the meeting was somewhat . muddled, by reason of some of the speakers having gone too much into details, and again, the amendment is a very extra- H ordinary one. There is overlying the various details referred to, a principle to which I think our chief attention should be directed ; it is the principle of local selfgovernment. The amendment, it is just «♦ the reverse, and therefore on that ground alone is bound to be condemned. He was of opinion that the gentleman who moved it, was a determined opponent of centralism, and he could not but express surprise on hearing the amendment, and the reason by which he justified it. In fact he felt like Rip Van Winkle, just awaked, from a century's nap, and he would not enter into the question of the fitness or otherwise of the respective engineers or into the question of cost, for even if it COUld be conclusively shown that the various works alluded to could more effectively and economically constructed by t the General Government. He would yet T contend for their construction by the various local bodies. He quite agreed with the speaker, who said the subject of the meeting was one that should have been V settled by the County Council. He had

hoped that the Council would have aided to remove some of the imperfections existing in the .administration of some of our Koad Boards, but that hope is for the present abandoned. It has been stated that the two bodies cannot exist together, but he had seen no conclusive reasons shown for it. He could not see why those bodies, Road Boards and Council, should not act in concurrence, and the County be gainers by their joint action, just as the Colony benefited by the joint action of thenational bodies, the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives. But the efforts of our Council are of no avail. They had a meeting and agreed to wait. They rode to the Hill Top, and again agreed to wait, and then rode down again. This occurred again and again, and the waiting was conducted with expemtary patience. They waited to see what course the Selwyn Council would adopt for the purposes of the settlers there, and not for those here. Still there are able able men in the Selwyn Council, and Mr. Rolleston, one of the best servants the Province ever had, though he believed he would have been made good for nothing had he been many more times elected superintendent. However, our Council waited, saw the decision the former arrived at, and went and did likewise. There was no criticism, intelligent analysis or reasoning on the arguments of the Selwyn Council. All intellectual effort was in abeyance, and merely a policy of imition adopted. Possibly the evolutionists nrijrht find therein further confirmation of their theory, that man is an imitative animal remotely descended from the imitative ape.

Mr. Knight here arose to speak to order, and the Chairman ruled the speaker was somewhat wide of the question. Mr. Joblin continued, he did not think he was beside the question, as their intimate connection between this meeting and the County was the act of the one and the cause of the other. He was of opinion that the act of the Council impeded the progress of the Peninsula, and conceived he was justified in expressing , that opinion, but he deferred to the Chairman, and ■would terminate his remarks by strongly rejecting the amendment. Mr. Knight held that Mr. Joblin's remarks had nothing to do with the amendment. The Chairman said that it seemed to him that a number of speakers had wandered very much from the question. Mr , Baker said that as the last speaker appeared to have set them all right on the subject, he would be most happy to resign his seat on the Council in favour of such an able man as Mr. Joblin. His present advocacy on the expenditure of these votes may appear inconsistent to muny, but he firmly believed that the work would be carried out under the direction of the Government. The Road Board's servants were influenced by local men. [Voices — •' Proof," proof.] If the work were entrusted to the Boards, the roads would merely be constructed to a certain point and laid off as best as they could. Mr. Roberts said that Mr. Baker had cast a slur upon the Road Boards, which was not true. He as a late member, could say that he had never allowed himself to be influenced, and that those gentlemen who had worked with him on the Board, laboured for the public good, and not in the interest of private individuals. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Duxbury instanced that a road had been laid off by the direction of the Road Board from German Bay to Long Bay by Mr. Fenton without incurring any claim or compensation. R Tne Chairman then put the amendment, which found but two supporters, and upon putting the motion to the vote, it was declared carried unanimously amidst great applause. A vote of thanks terminated the proceedings.